Iron wood December 10th 2001
I walk out of the tinkertech plane, it's gotten bigger and more comfortable, well for me at least, the brass seems to trust me enough to give me some creature comforts. At the very least I'm not in a cell. The PRT guards around me were relaxed and played a game of poker, I spent most of my time checking in on June and the kids. June waves at me, her hair is disheveled and she looks exhausted.
I walk off the ramp and she runs up and hugs me, I return it. The infants cry in their stroller as we embrace. She smiles and gives me a wink.
"So you want to do anything tonight?"
She waggles her eyebrows.
"After you get some sleep, some real sleep, I will look after the twins."
She sighs
"But you just got back from the-"
"Your tired and you need this, we're partners yes?"
The hug grew weak and she smiled.
"I love you."
We walked to the oversized bus that would take us back home to the special district. June slept during the ride, cuddled up close to me, when we finally got home I carried her in my arms as I pushed the stroller, there were polite nods as I took my family home. Once there I tucked June into bed and proceeded to watch the kids.
December 25th 2001
The district has gone all out for the holiday season, and I'm having dinner with the family.
"Happy anniversary."
June nods, one year, we made it one year, there's a sense of quiet and silent accomplishment.
"I've asked for an extension of maternity leave."
I nod my head.
"And?"
"It's going to be unpaid, but the PRT says I'm welcome back any time I feel like it."
"Are you thinking about quitting?"
June shrugged.
"I don't know, I never had a choice about being a cape before. I was always obeying orders, this is really the first time I've ever really lived life the way I wanted."
She had a look of melancholy.
"Do you re-"
"No, I may have rushed into things but I'm content, I'm just tired."
"Have you changed your mind about having more then 5?"
She shrugged.
"Lets stick to the twins and see how that turns out."
I passed her some coffee and she smiled as she smelled it.
"Thank you."
We held hands fingers intertwined as she sipped her coffee.
December 31st 2001.
I walked in a row of deformed and sometimes freakish people, which stared back at me.
"Volunteers."
They all raised their hands, I picked one.
"One at a time."
The person I picked had the lower body of a spider and the upper end that looked hideous. She stepped forward into a room. I concentrated and she fell asleep, A bright flash of light filled the room and a nude woman was on the ground, a group of PRT agents covered her with a blanket as she was rushed out.
This wasn't free of course, all of them had been told that the price of getting fixed would be service in the Protectorate. One by one the case 53's were brought into my room to be fixed, I had told them to write down a wish list of what they wanted. A few were...excessive but I complied. When it was over the sky was starting to get dark. I walked out of the building back to my house.
"Good job."
I looked up at Eidolon.
"I try, it's still dangerous, sooner or later someone will die during the process."
He frowned.
"We warned them of the risks, they decided it was worth it."
He continued to hover in the air.
"What brings you to Seattle?"
"Had some free time and I wanted to check up on the case 53's."
"And?"
"We have proven that it works, so before and after photos will be made, public announcements created followed by a public relations campaign. Also I have to give you this."
He handed me a manila folder.
"And this?"
"Sphere's wishlist as approved of by NASA."
I looked at the paperwork.
"I will get started."
"Thanks."
With that he flew into the air, I continued my walk home.